Cadillactica, the latest of Big K.R.I.T., is the existential planet he rides appropriately while making observations of his generation, his love life, and himself. Now on his sixth full length project, the Mississippi rapper has become one of the many names that pops up in the discussion when we’re talking about this new generation of rap greats. With a valuable reputation and a wealth of ears listening, all the “King Remembered In Time” had to do was deliver.

A clear standout is the album’s title track, “Cadillactica.” Everything from the production, to Krit’s stacatto hook and double time flow verses allows him to make a fan of anyone listening. The record feels like the “world” that Big Krit was looking to create, with not only rap, but a true art by simply speaking on his love for classic vehicles. It’s not so much that what he’s saying is the most profound, but sonically the music surrounds you in a way that submerges you. It happens just as Krit intended for you to be when he decided on the concept for this album (and the album cover). Plenty of times we witness artists who go for the concept track and completely miss, but Krit is spot on in a way that turns his album into a virtual reality game where the glasses are fixed for this one.

With that said, let’s not forget that Krit is a rapper first. “King Of The South” was Krit’s best moment as an emcee as he drew that line in the sand and dared someone to cross it.

Ain’t no love in the coliseum
This shit here been a bloodsport
Keep what you kill, fuck if they live
Cause everybody out here cutthroat
I’ve been quietly waitin’
Deep in my dungeon, my stomach was rumblin’, my belly was achin’
Everybody wanna see a monster
Till they see the monster, the monster holla out, “What’s shakin’?”
– Big KRIT, King Of The South

In Krit’s CRWN interview with Elliot Wilson he elaborated on the feelings invoked after being named in Kendrick Lamar’s infamous “Control” verse. Instead of taking the popular approach and dropping a freestyle on the beat, he speaks his piece and shows us his pride for the south in the process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecHYTm3GK3s

Then there was the Lupe Fiasco-assisted “Lost Generation,” where Krit and Lupe play the Angel/Devil on a shoulder to the young listeners of today’s hip hop. Krit plays the good guy who makes a conscious effort to speak sense to the listener before Lupe comes and delivers the most ignorant verse of 2014 playing the bad guy. Amazing, but damn Lu, some people won’t be able to tell the difference!

My nigga fuck this mic
We should be fucking with MIC
Military industrial complex
And we can get rich, nigga, fuck showing love
They ain’t listening to us
They ain’t playing this bitch in the club
So let’s get paid, turn these motherfuckers into slaves
School is for lames, man, these niggas join gangs
Fuck Martin Luther King, nigga, fuck change
– Lupe Fiasco, Lost Generation

The album does have its downfalls though. While Lupe shines in his guest spot, we can’t say the same for the others. E-40 and Wiz Khalifa phone it in in the worst way on “Mind Control.” “Mo Better Cool” comes and goes even with features from Bun B, Big Sant, and Devin The Dude. Also some may be off put by Krit’s southern slang. Krit’s very proud of his roots, but this may be what separates him from his more cultured peers.

All in all, we can’t deny that this is a quality project. Krit is as consistent as they come and Cadillactica may even be a step up from his last project. Other standouts like “Soul Food,” “Pay Attention,” and “Angels” deserve a shout as well, which only leads me to say that Krit has dropped one of the best projects of 2014.